Andrew DeJesse

Andrew DeJesse

3,200.00

Cantonment painting is of a landscape near the sight of Fort Elliott (Mobeetie, TX). A cantonment area is a military garrison. Similar forts in the Southwest were the only refuge for European settlers. The Texas Panhandle was witnessed one the last stands of the American Indians. Fort Elliott was dismantled in the 19th Century, but the history still stands. Like forts on the open range, the represented structure stands in isolation, surrounded by a sea of grasslands. (Oil on panel, 24 X 19 1/2 inches)

History

I graduated from University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA in 1993 with a BFA in Illustration. I worked as a freelance illustrator and as an in-house art director in pharmaceutical advertising in NJ, PA, and NYC. After moving to Texas, I started my expressive art career with a focus on the Great Plains' heritage and expressing outliers in terms of 21st Century Regionalism and modern Social Realism. My work has shown in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Over the last 15 years, I have participated in numerous solo and group exhibits.

Coping through Art

I have deployed once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. In the military, I currently serve as a Civil Affairs Officer with the specialty function as a Cultural Heritage Preservation Officer (formerly known as Monuments Men). My military assignments have been to work with local populaces on education, infrastructure, governance, and cultural heritage projects.My art reflects on the people I served with and local Iraqis or Afghans that I worked alongside. My works are never direct representations of battle scenes. Instead I paint the two worlds that combat veterans occupy… reflections of home or of being overseas.Since returning from my last deployment, I have been able to conduct an art collaboration with artists from Kabul, Afghanistan. The show was entitled, “Art Transcending Conflict” and it was exhibited in Amarillo, TX.